YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Marjorie Hartman led a quiet life, but the foundation established to distribute contributions in her name ensured her legacy speaks about what was important to her.

The Marjorie Hartman Foundation contributed $1 million to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign, Youngstown State University Foundation and university officials announced Friday. The campaign is raising funds for the renovation of YSU’s student center, which is slated to reopen in fall 2027.

In recognition of the gift, “the rock” area outside Kilcawley Center will be recognized as Marjorie Hartman Plaza.

YSU Foundation President Paul McFadden said at a news conference that Hartman kept a low profile.

“Her legacy will live on here at Youngstown State University for generations,” he said. “So for someone who wanted to be low key, her impact is profound.”

Attorney Thomas J. Lodge, Linda Cappelli-Sladick and Barry K. Haughin are trust advisers for Hartman’s foundation.

Hartman was a dog groomer, and when a good friend of hers, a veterinarian, died, he left her a trust fund and also left money to The Ohio State University. When Hartman died, she wanted her money to go to similar projects, Lodge said.

The Hartman Foundation advisers developed the criteria for the types of projects that would be funded.

“Mostly, they were capital items, or they were new, innovative programs,” Lodge said. “We had a bunch of criteria that we made people meet.”

One of the criteria was that the projects funded had to be in the Mahoning Valley television market viewing area from Lake Erie to Lisbon and Rootstown, Ohio, and Mercer, Pa.

“But we got to a point where it was time to do something really large, and so we decided that the foundation should come to an end after many years,” Lodge said. “We’ve been at this for quite some time, and we decided that the Hartman Foundation funding of YSU was the one that had the greatest impact of all of our projects.”

With the $1 million gift, the Hartman Foundation has contributed $3 million to YSU and the YSU Foundation.  

Hartman was an animal lover, and the foundation has helped fund, with more than $2 million, pre-veterinary offerings at YSU. The Marjorie Hartman Family Foundation Scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the pre-vet program, majoring in biology or chemistry. And endowments for the Pre-Veterinary Society fund its operations, support, projects and adviser. 

The endowments also include the Marjorie Hartman Family Foundation Pet Clinic. The annual clinic provides low-cost vaccines for pets. A wing in the university’s biology department was dedicated to Hartman.

Cappelli-Sladick said she believes Marjorie Hartman Plaza will complete Hartman’s legacy.

“Bringing people together, possibly with their furry friends, and enjoying each other’s company would make Marge the happiest,” she said. “Each time a visitor reads a plaque explaining just who Marge Hartman was will allow them to move forward in Marjorie’s mission of education and of care for animals that she was so passionate about.” 

Haughin, the third adviser, recalled a column that used to run in Writer’s Digest called “The Most Unforgettable Character I’ve Ever Met.”

“Marge Hartman was the most unforgettable character I’ve ever met,” he said. “If you love animals, if you have a passion for making sure that animals are treated correctly, she would like you. She more than loved them. I know a lot of people – and maybe you do too – who would rather be with animals than with human beings. And I can’t say that I blame them. But Marge absolutely was.”

She had a crusty exterior, Haughin said, but inside there was a heart of gold, and it beat for animals.

YSU President Bill Johnson said it’s amazing how far Hartman’s legacy has already come and how far it will go in the future. He thanked the Hartman Foundation advisers.

“I can see someday when our students are referring to the rock as the Marjorie Hartman Rock, because it’s going to be the Marjorie Hartman Plaza – Rock Plaza – and so I think the students will just migrate toward that.”

Pictured at top: From left are Brian Nord, Youngstown State University Foundation chief development officer; YSU President Bill Johnson; Thomas J. Lodge, Linda Cappelli-Sladick and Barry K. Haughin, all trust advisers; and Paul McFadden, YSU Foundation president.